Thompson & Morgan Kew 'Bee Balm Monarda' seeds

Part of the Kew Pollinators seed range, created in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Bee Balm brings a burst of colour and life to summer borders with its striking, spidery pink blooms crowning tall, upright stems. As its name suggests, this hardy perennial is an absolute magnet for pollinators, with nectar-rich flowers that draw bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects to the garden all summer long. Herb growers will know it better as Bergamot, prized for its aromatic foliage as much as its flowers — the dried leaves make a fragrant bergamot tea, while the sweet, spicy petals can be scattered fresh over salads, jellies, rice or pasta dishes for a decorative, flavourful finish. Forming an attractive clump at the front of borders, it thrives on rich, damp soil and mingles happily with other herbaceous perennials, making it as useful for filling out a planting scheme as it is for supporting garden wildlife.

Growing guide

Direct sow outdoors from September to November, in full sun, into well-drained soil raked to a fine tilth. Sow thinly at a depth of around 2mm in drills spaced 30cm apart, covering the seed with its own depth of soil to exclude light. Water regularly, particularly during dry spells. Germination takes 10–30 days. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, thin them out to 30cm apart. Alternatively, sow indoors from January to March at 20–25°C, potting on and growing in cooler conditions until sturdy enough to plant outside into a rich, moist, well-drained spot. Expect flowers from June through to August, with plants reaching up to 90cm tall and 45cm across once established.

Each packet contains approximately 80 seeds — enough to establish a generous clump or dot several plants through a border.